Einstein’s Razor: It’s not a direct quote, but Einstein’s philosophy has been summed up as, “Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler.” It’s a refinement of Occam’s Razor, both of which have influenced my approach in finance and accounting. Some situations are simple and some are complex, but the key to Einstein’s approach is to determine the most critical variables in any circumstance and solve for those in the simplest manner possible. I eliminate variables and avoid “brute force” solutions, to keep the simple simple and the complex as simple as possible.
Accuracy Vs. Precision: This mindset dovetails with Einstein’s Razor. You can make the most precise calculation down to several decimal places, but it’s useless if it’s not accurate. I see this principle violated frequently in budgeting. Accountants spend hours determining their most likely workers’ compensation expense for the next year, but then fail to account for attrition, which makes their final personnel budget figure very precise, but worthlessly inaccurate. I focus on accuracy. If precision is necessary, I tackle that after I’ve determined that my solution is accurate.
Creative Solutions: There are several musicians and artists in my family. You might think of artists as flighty, irresponsible, head-in-the-clouds types, but I see them as clear thinkers. They see problems with an open mind and come up with unique solutions. I’m a big fan of best practices, but I know that every organization is unique, and it’s important to at least explore all possible approaches.
Tangible Value: I want to save you time and money. I want to earn my fee and make sure that I can show my clients how I’ve helped them achieve their mission effectively. Consider the activities that are eating your lunch and let me jump in and see if I can make them go smoother.
Integrity and Mutual Respect: My family has instilled ethics and pride in me, and I look to honor this in my practice. I appreciate all types of diversity, and will always treat my clients with respect and honesty.
